Richard Death and Taxes

For my sins I've been digging through the Exchequer records at the National Archives and the thing which really hits you in the face is that, from the time he came to the throne, Richard was holding Inquisitions claiming taxes which should have been paid (quite legitimately I'd add)to Edward IV, going back to 1481. These included big cities, but also the Clergy were obliged to cough up large amounts -one tenth and it was still going in on 1485. So he didn't impose benevolences, as historians agree, but he did follow up what was owed from before - like the Inland Revenue going on a binge.

On top of that, as you probably know, to his credit, he responded to pleas from the people of Ireland who said land there had been left neglected by the English nobility and they faced penalties if they didn't put this right.

So, apart from the North/South divide, which is so often mooted as the root of discontent, we seem to have the potential for a rumbling dissent about taxes? And taxes have been known to bring down more than one leader, certainly in the UK (ironic that some of these were called Poll Taxes). Perhaps we should see the vanished princes as a facade for the Buckingham rebellion and it was really about what hit the richest in their pockets, including the Church?

Any more info about this out there?

Can't find a mention in Annette or Kendall and Baldwin seems to gloss over it. H

From: hjnatdat
To:
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2013 2:56 PM
Subject: Richard Death and Taxes


> For my sins I've been digging through the Exchequer records at the
> National Archives and the thing which really hits you in the face is that,
> from the time he came to the throne, Richard was holding Inquisitions
> claiming taxes

There's also a document somewhere where he's discussing legal points with
somebody, with the interjection (repeated, irrc) "And shall the king have
his fine?"